By Bruce Karnick

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Usually, teams have a few weeks to get practices in before the start of the season. That was not the case for Coach Marissa Welch and her girl’s tennis team. They started practicing on Monday, August 16 and had their first match against section opponent Northfield on Friday. A match that was going very well.

“I love the girls came ready to play. It’s a section opponent, and the lineup is good and it’s, I’m very impressed and pleased with the girls,” explained Welch.

The girls were put in multiple tough spots with such an early season match and played hard. As if it was not tough enough to play after just having four days of practice, they also have to deal with not being on their home courts. The courts at the high school are currently being rebuilt.

“We knew it was gonna get worked on for the summer, but we didn’t know, like Trent has been working really hard on what’s going to give us the longevity of like, the cracks in the courts, and so it was kind of like, we’re gonna wait a year. We’re going to be up there, we’re not, so we do get to be up there this season so we’re looking forward to that. We’re hoping to be up there by our home Invitational. But, you know, per COVID, supplies are backed up and so, we’re patiently waiting,” said Welch.

How did the first match go? (H) after the name indicates Hastings players.

SINGLES Claire Keller (H) defeated Marie Labenski 6-0, 6-0 Charlotte Kranz (H) defeated Maya Deschamp 6-2, 6-1 Autumn Winkler (H) defeated Lynnette Oh 6-1, 6-1 Brooklyn Keller defeated Izzy Balrin 6-2, 6-2 DOUBLES Gabbi Grant / Courtney Graff defeated Chloe Konrady (H) / Reese Keller (H) 6-4, 6-2 Molly Moran (H) / Ellie Haas (H) defeated Natalia Neyrak / Alison Huang 6-3, 6-4 Lucy Boland / Meha Hnyatyszyn defeated Ruby Rotty (H) / Brooke Jelley (H) 6-4, 1-6, 10-7 Hastings won the match 5-2.

Monday, the Raiders travelled to East Ridge for a doubles scrimmage with the Raptors.

Tuesday Burnsville will be in town and Friday is the invitational that starts at 9:00 a.m.

The courts at the high school were completely replaced at the end of the summer with the work continuing into the start of the fall tennis season. The court subsurface had deteriorated causing cracking on the surface. Cracked tennis courts are a safety concern, prompting the replacement. Photo by Bruce Karnick

Hastings number one doubles team of Reese Keller (L) and Chloe Konrady (R) fell in their first match 6-4 and 6-2. The pair played hard and showed great promise for the season. Doubles requires a chemistry between partners and these two will undoubtedly grow to understand each other quickly this season. Photo by Bruce Karnick